The reigning national champions begin this season where they finished their 2013 campaign – as the No. 1 team in college football.

With just four days until Florida State opens fall camp, the Seminoles were nearly a unanimous pick in the Amway Coaches Poll, which was released Thursday.

Receiving 56 of 62 first-place votes, it marks the first time since 1999 that Florida State opens the season as the top team in college football.

"We're very excited about being No. 1 and happy to be No. 1, but we understand that we have to play like No. 1 and play great football," said Jimbo Fisher, who is one of the 62 head coaches that will vote in the weekly poll this season. "That's going to be our objective. We're proud to start there and now we just have to go play great football."

Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon and Auburn round out the top five teams in the poll.

The six first-place votes that FSU did not receive went to the Sooners (3), Ducks (1), No. 6-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (1) and the No. 9-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks (1).

Led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jameis Winston, the Seminoles return 15 starters from last year's 14-0 national championship team.

"There is no added pressure," said Fisher, who is entering his fifth season as head coach. "Our goal every year is to win the National Championship. That's why we're at Florida State."

Of course, the last time the Seminoles started the season atop the rankings they were able to finish there. FSU's 1999 team is still the one and only wire-to-wire national champion.

No. 16 Clemson and No. 17 Notre Dame are FSU's only two 2014 opponents that were ranked in the preseason coaches' poll.

Florida, Oklahoma State, Louisville and Miami each received votes.

Pair of 2015 QBs commit to FSU

Within a span of 30 minutes Florida State landed a pair of highly-ranked quarterback commits.